Key-board attachment for pianos



(No Model.)

0. DB VILBISS.

KEY BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

No. 434,384. Patented Aug. 12, 18.90.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASPER DE VILBISS OF SHELLSBURG, IOWA.

KEY-BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,384, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed March 21, 1890. Serial No. 344,702. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER DE VILBIss, of Shellsbnrg, in the county of Benton and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Attachment for Operating Pianos, Organs, and like Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved device for mechanically playing any tune upon an organ, melodeon, or piano, and has for its object to provide a simple mechanical attachment, which may be set over the key-board of such keyed instruments, and that when operated by revolution of a crank will play a selected piece of music upon the organ or like instrument.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, partly broken and partly sectional. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview of one end por tion of a lower roller, showing means for driving the same. Fig. 4 is an end view of the roller shown in Fig. 3, attached parts being in section, taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the opposite end port-ion of the lower roller and its support broken.

To carry the invention into effect a rectangular frame is provided, which is comprised of a back board a, to the ends of which the side pieces I) b are attached. The upper edges of the three sides of the frame are cut away from the corners to reduce the height and give these pieces ornamental form, graceful curves in ogee, or any other style being employed to afford a neat appearance.

On the inner surface of the side piece 1), near its longitudinal center, a pedestal-block c is secured, which at its center on the upper side is grooved for the reception of one journal c of the lower roller A, which will be further described.

Two standardsB are secured to the frameone on the outsideof each side piece. These incline rearwardly in the same diagonal plane,

are made of a suitable height for their use, and project at their lower ends at B below the frame side pieces I).

A sliding frame cl is mounted on the inclined standards B, rectangular grooves being formed in its end portions to adapt it to have engagement with said posts, and to secure the frame (I at any desired height a series of spaced perforations e is made in each standard for the insertion of pins 6, which, when introduced in opposite holes, willhold the frame with its arms (1 projected for- Wardly and upwardly in the same plane parallel to each other.

Near the outerends of the bracket-arms d an upper roller 0, of equal length and diameter with the lower roller A,is revolubly supported by the engagement of its axial journalpins f with opposite transverse grooves produced on the upper surface of the arms d, which are shaped as open boxes and retain the upper roller in place parallel to the lower roller.

The rollers A and O are intended to movably support the endless sheet of flexible material D,which should be removable. To this end the terminal of the lower roller A, which is opposite the journaled end 0, is provided with an aligning journal-pin h, which engages loosely an axial perforation in a carrier-block it, that is secured on the inner end of a shaft 2', which shaft ext-ends through the side wall 17', and is therein supported to revolve, as shown in Fig. 3. One side of the carrier-block h is flattened to enable it to act as a driver, and on this surface a pin kbears when the roller A is in position. Said pin being firmly inserted in the end of the roller, is thus adapted to lock it to the carrier-block h, and yet permit the roller to be disengaged when it is moved endwise from said block.

As previously mentioned, the journal end 0 of the lower roller A rests within an open box formed in the pedestal-block c. Consequently said journal can be elevated sufliciently to move the roller longitudinally and disconnect it at the other end, when it may be readily removed along with the upper roller 0 and the engaged endless sheet D.

To prevent displacement of the journal end 0' when the device is in use, or at any other time except when a change is to be made with regard to the endless sheet D, the keeper- 0 is provided, which is simply a piece of wire rod bent into L form, one end portion being inserted and revolubly secured in the pedestal-block e, and the other limb projected above the journal end 0, on which it bears, if it is desired, to preventdisplacement of said journal, a lateral movement of the limb removing the same from contact with the journal that is thus released, free to be lifted and longitudinally moved.

The frame of the device is made of a length to correspond to that of the style of instrument it is to be used in connection with, so that when it is seated upon or over the keyboard of an organ or other similarly-keyed instrument the depending ends B of the side brackets 12 can be made to rest on the casing 1 of the same, and thus permit a proper space to intervene between the roller A and keys of 'the instrument.

Across the front of the supporting-frame a stay-piece b is secured between the forwardly-projecting end portions 19 of the side pieces I) b, and on the ends b suitable box-bearings are formed or secured to receive the drivingshaft E. Upon the righthand end portion of the 'driving shaft E, which projects outside of the side I) 'of the frame, a crank-handle m is secured, and on the opposite end of said shafta small grooved pulley n is affixed, the shaft being properly extended beyond the side I) to permit the pulley t0 revolve freely outside of the inclined standard B. suflicient length to permit a grooved pulleyo to be secured on the same outside of the frame-standard B, in alignment with the smaller pulley 02, these pulleys being connected by a belt. The pulleys a and 0 are of relative diametrical size, so that the latternamed will move the rollers A O and endless sheet thereon at a proper speed when the crank-handle m is revolved.

Below the lower roller A a series of tappetlevers p are arranged, these being of a number to correspond with the keys on the instrument that is to be operated upon. The tappet-levers p are spaced to align each with its appropriate key on the key-board below it when the device is in position. All of the tappet-levers p are secured, as at r in Fig. 2, upon the back board a. Preferably elastic strips of sheet metal-such as steel orbrass are used to provide a spring-joint attachment of the rear ends of the tappet-levers to the frame, whereby they are permitted to vibrate independently in a vertical plane and return to a normal position when free to rise. The upper surfaces of the tappet-levers p are cut away, as shown, to reduce weight, and also to produce rounded projections or toes, as at s in Fig. 2, which toes are located below the axial center of the lower roller A, the free forward ends of the levers being vertically slotted to engage loosely the depending guide-pins t, which are affixed in the front cross-piece of The shaft i is of the supporting frame, said pins being provided with heads that engage and limit the depression of the levers 1). Supplementary springs to are attached to the tappet-leversp, and also to the back piece a of the frame, which aid to support these levers or bars and effect a quick return of the same to a horizontal plane when they are depressed. Preferably a slightly-yielding strip of material 19 is placed on the lower surface of each lever 19 as a facing to bear upon the keys of the musical instrument and avoid injury thereto, the springs r and it being attached to said strips in a manner to hold them from displacement at their rear ends. The set-screws to, that penetrate the levers p and rest upon the strips p, afford means to separate these slightly when necessary, to regulate the extent of upward projection given to the lovers 2) and toes s thereon.

The endless sheet orbeltD is made of non elastic material, and may be fibrous fabric or leather, and for its efficiency in service the entire length of said sheet should be proportioned to the number of consecutive notes to be executed on the same key that is contained in the piece of music to be executed.

Upon the outer surface of the endless sheet D at proper intervals cam-knobs v are formed or secured, which are arranged in. aligning and parallel series, the knobs in each individual series being so located that theywill engage the toe of a tappet-lever below them. Suitable spacing between each pair of knobs of a series is afforded to suit the time of the measure executed, and a proper elevation for the knobs is also needed to depress the tappet-levers, that in turn strike the keys of the musical instrument operated upon, and in case this should be a wind-instrument--as, for example, an organ-the knobs where the measure requires swelling notes produced are elongated to suit the note.

It is necessary to prevent a lateral displacement of the endless sheet D, and also to provide means for its adjustment sidewise, so that the knobs e will strike the toes s fairly to insure the complete depression of the tappet-levers p and keys they engage. To effect this, the adjustable collars w are placed upon the upper roller 0 and set to impinge on the edges of the sheet D as it is moved. A further means for producing a correct travel of the endless sheet D upon the rollers A C consists in grooving said rollers at several spaced intervals of length in parallel vertical planes, so that taut cords or, placed as bands that are endless, and which slightly project above the surface of each roller to engage the inner surface of the sheet D, will cause the latter to move in a right line, preventing a lateral creeping of the same, which would be due to one edge being stretched tighter than the other. In case this should occur, a band as of increased thickness would prevent the side movement mentioned.

It is evident that there is no practical limit to the variations in music which may be executed by use of this device, as each sheet D may contain an air or piece of music and any desired number of sheets may be furnished and used, as described.

By the use of the within-described device an operator who is entirely destitute of musical knowledge mayproduce a variety of musical airs upon a reed or stringed instrument having a key-board, the attachment being adapted for rendition of music on either if simply set over the key-board and operated by the crank, it being understood that in case a wind-instrument is to be operated upon the bellows of the same must be pumped in the usual way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with the frame, the upper and lower rollers, the latter having pins h 70 at one end and pin or trunnion c at its other end, and the endless band passingaround the rollers and having knobs o, of a shaftt' in alignment with the lower roller and provided at its inner end with a perforated ca'rrier-block receiving the pin or trunnion h and engaging the pin 70 to lock the lower roller and shaft 2' together, and means for rotating the shaft 1', substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame and the sheet of flexible material having knobs, of the tappet-levers p, springs r, supporting the said levers from the frame, strips 19, extending along the under sides of said levers, and set-screws '11,, extending down through the said levers and bearing on the said strips, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a frame having standards and bracket-arms on the standards, which are movable, of two parallel rollers on the frame and standards, an endless sheet on p the rollers having cam-knobs on its outer surface, tappet-levers, which are spring-actuated, and which are supported on the frame below the endless sheet to be engaged by its camknobs, and a device to move the rollers revolubly and the endless sheet longitudinally, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a frame having two opposite standards, bracket-arms thereon which are adjustable, removable cylindrical rollers on the frame and standards, and a device to rotate one roller, of an endless sheet of flexible material on the rollers having several spaced rows of cam-knobs arranged at proper intervals on its surface, tappet-levers, which are hinge-jointed to the frame by'their rear ends, so as to align them with the rows of knobs on the endless sheet, and springs which normally retain the tappet-levers in a horizontal plane and permit them'to yield to the impinge of the cam-knobs, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with two spaced revoluble rollers that are oppositely grooved, and endless bands as, passing around said two rollers and of greater thickness than the depths of their grooves, of an endless sheet which is placed on the rollers and stretched to have contact with the bands thereon, substantially as set forth.

CASPER DE VILBISS.

Witnesses:

F. SHORNLER,

A. MUSCHAWEOK. 

